Coined
by Jan Smuts, the word holism (adjective: holistic) applies to a way of thinking that recognises the interconnectedness and
interdependence of all things. In a veterinary context, it indicates the approach to a patient that views the body (i.e.
the collection of organs and tissues) as a whole and as being greater than the sum of its parts, that each part acts
upon every other part and upon the whole and that each is in turn acted upon by every other part and by the whole. No individual
part can be considered separately. It also considers the body in the context of diet, lifestyle and environment
and the part that each of these factors plays in health and disease.

In all cases, the principle used is to enable and to facilitate the
body's own extraordinary healing powers, to achieve the result. Hippocrates is reported to have said: "The Physician
treats, Nature heals".

Despite the fact that the case load of the AVMC is mostly
animals that have failed to find help through the conventional approach, over a wide range of very refractory disease, we
witness an encouragingly large percentage of positive outcomes.

We also offer video consultations in support of local veterinary practices, for those who are too distant to travel, who live abroad or who cannot travel to
us for other reasons. This service is also available for horses.

With a deep respect for NATURE, we use NATURAL MEDICINES to exploit the extraordinary endogenous healing
capability of animals. NATURE has the answers to most health problems, if only we strive hard enough to find them.

When thinking holistically, we view the patient as a whole entity, rather than as a collection of organs and tissues.
We treat the body and the body sets about correcting its problems. We do not single out a particular organ or a particular
biochemical pathway for our medical attention. We take into account feeding, lifestyle, external influences of all sorts,
as well as demeanour and character, when formulating a treatment programme. The holistic vet is able to call on a number of
tnatural therapies, brought together in an integrative programme, for the treatment of your animal.

Some people appear to become hung up on terminology - whether to call us homeopathic vets, herbal vets, acupuncture vets,
holistic vets, natural vets, complementary vets or alternative vets. Don't worry about it - plain 'vet' will do
and we'll get on with the job.

Holistic vets are in ever greater demand, as it is progressively more commonly realised that each patient is an
individual and that chronic disease needs to be dealt with at that level. Mr Day is one of a growing number of holistic vets
in the UK using integrated natural vet medicines and, having started in the field in the early 70s, may even have been the
UK's first 'holistic vet'.